F1: Andrea Kimi Antonelli to drive Mercedes from 2025 in place of Hamilton. An Italian returns to the Circus: “A dream come true”

John

By John

“It’s an incredible feeling to be announced as an official Mercedes driver alongside George (Russell, ed.) for 2025. Getting to F1 is a dream I’ve had since I was a child.” These are the first words of Kimi Antonelli after Mercedes’ announcement that an Italian will be returning to Formula 1 as an official driver from 2021, Antonio Giovinazzi’s last season at Sauber Alfa Romeo.

“I want to thank the team for the support they have given me so far in my career and for the trust they have shown in me,” said the driver from Emilia. “I am still learning a lot, but I feel ready for this opportunity. I will focus on improving and getting the best possible results for the team. I am also very happy to become George’s teammate. He has been through the team’s junior program just like me and is someone I have a lot of respect for. He is very fast, has won multiple Grands Prix and has already helped me improve as a driver. I am looking forward to learning from him and working together to get results on track.”

Who is Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a young Italian talent in the world of motorsport, destined to become one of the biggest names in Formula 1. Born in Bologna in 2006, Antonelli began his career in karting, where he quickly demonstrated exceptional talent, winning numerous national and international championships.

After winning the Italian and German Formula 4 championships in 2022, and the Formula Regional Middle East and Europe titles in 2023, Antonelli made the direct jump to Formula 2 in 2024 with the Prema team.

In 2024, Antonelli took his first Formula 2 win in a wet race at Silverstone, demonstrating great maturity and skill in the rain, beating experienced opponents and cementing his status as a promising future driver.

His impressive rise has caught the attention of Mercedes, who recently announced that Antonelli will replace Lewis Hamilton in Formula 1 from 2025. At just 18, he will be the third-youngest driver in F1 history to debut for the Mercedes team alongside George Russell.

With a carefully curated career path from the Mercedes team and an intensive testing programme planned for 2024, Antonelli is ready to make his debut in the top motorsport championship, marking the start of a new chapter for the team and for Italian motorsport.